Australia troops out of Afghanistan

Afghanistan now needs rebuilding, Mr Howard said

Australia has announced that it is withdrawing its special forces troops from Afghanistan, where they have been serving alongside US forces for the past year.

The Prime Minister, John Howard, said the focus in Afghanistan was shifting towards reconstruction and the 150 Special Air Services (SAS) troops were overqualified for such work.

Mr Howard said the SAS would begin withdrawing from Afghanistan this month, and most of the troops would be back in Australia before Christmas.

Bringing the SAS back gives Australia the option of deploying the troops in any operation in Iraq.

Terror threat

Mr Howard has been one of the most vocal supporters of Washington's war on terror.

The announcement also comes a day after Canberra said it had received "credible information" about at terrorist threat to the country.

Mr Howard made no specific link between the troop withdrawal and the terror threat, but he did note the need to heighten domestic security.

"We must remain flexible and open to the need for further strengthening of our national security system in the light of international developments," Mr Howard said in a speech to be delivered in Sydney later on Wednesday.